Comparison of Energy
Resources
IB Syllabus: 3.3.1-3.3.3
AP Syllabus
Ch 15, 16
Video – A Crude Awakening
• http://1bog.org/blog/what-if-solar-powerhad-fossil-fuel-like-subsidies-infographic/
• 3.3.1: Outline the range of energy
resources available to a society
• 3.3.2: Evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of two contrasting energy
sources
• 3.3.3: Discuss the factors that effect the
choice of energy sources adopted by
different societies
Vocabulary
•
•
•
•
Greenhouse gases
Renewable natural capital
Non renewable natural capital
Pollution
Energy Resources
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fossil fuels  coal, oil, natural gas
Nuclear  fission, fusion
Solar  passive, active
Hydroelectric
Geothermal
Wind
• The relative use of different forms depends on the
particular area, its needs and its own available
resources
Nuclear power
6%
Hydropower, geothermal,
solar, wind
7%
Natural
Gas
12%
Biomass
11%
Coal
21%
Oil
32%
World
Nuclear power
8%
Hydropower
geothermal
solar, wind
4%
Natural
Gas
23%
Coal
22%
Oil
39%
United States
Biomass
4%
60
History
Projections
Oil
50
Natural gas
40
Coal
Nuclear
30
Nonhydro
renewable
20
Renewable hydro
10
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Year
2020
100
Contribution to total energy
consumption (percent)
Wood
80
Coal
Natural gas
60
Oil
40
Hydrogen
Solar
20
Nuclear
0
1800
1875
1950
Year
2025
2100
When will it all run out?
•
Future of nonrenewable resources depends
on
1. Actual or Potential supply
2. Rate of consumption
•
•
•
Economic depletion – costs too much to use
Depletion time – time to use 80% of resource
Traditional measure of availability is reserve
to production ratio – change is based on new
sources and new processes
A
Mine, use, throw away;
no new discoveries;
rising prices
Recycle; increase reserves
by improved mining
technology, higher prices,
and new discoveries
Production
B
Recycle, reuse, reduce
consumption; increase
reserves by improved
mining technology,
higher prices, and
new discoveries
C
Present
Depletion
time A
Depletion
time B
Time
Depletion
time C
Depletion
Curves
Economics & Mineral Resources
• Resources are unequally distributed on the
earth by geologic processes
• In free market economy high supply should =
lower price, while scarcity = increased price
• Theory may no longer apply because of
governmental control of resources & prices
• Government Subsidies, Lower taxes, &
increased purchasing power all benefit
mining companies
Most power generation regardless of the type is based on heating water to create
Steam to turn a turbine and run a dynamo to create the electricity
Advantages
Ample supply for
42–93 years
Low cost (with
huge subsidies)
High net
energy yield
Easily transported
within and
between countries
Low land use
Efficient distribution system
Disadvantages
Need to find
substitute within
50 years
Artificially low
price encourages
waste and
discourages
search for
alternatives
Air pollution
when burned
Releases CO2
when burned
Moderate water
pollution
Oil
Advantages
Moderate existing
supplies
Large potential
supplies
Easily transported
within and
between
countries
Efficient
distribution
system in place
Disadvantages
High costs
Low net energy
yield
Large amount of
water needed to
process
Severe land
disruption from
surface mining
Water pollution
from mining
residues
Air pollution
when burned
CO2 emissions
when burned
Coal
Advantages
Large fuel
supply
Disadvantages
High cost (even
with large
subsidies)
Low
environmental
impact (without
accidents)
Low net
energy yield
Emits 1/6 as
much CO2 as coal
High
environmental
impact (with major
accidents)
Moderate land
disruption and
water pollution
(without
accidents)
Catastrophic
accidents can
happen
(Chernobyl)
Moderate land use
Low risk of
accidents because
of multiple safety
systems (except
in 35 poorly
designed and run
reactors in former
Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe)
No acceptable
solution for
long-term storage
of radioactive
wastes and
decommissioning
worn-out plants
Spreads
knowledge and
technology for
building nuclear
weapons
Nuclear Power
Renewable energy
Advantages
Disadvantages
Fairly high net
energy
Need access
to sun
Work on cloudy
days
Low efficiency
Quick installation
Need electricity
storage system
or backup
Easily expanded
or moved
No CO2 emissions
Low
environmental
impact
Last 20-40 years
Low land use
(if on roof or built
into walls or
windows)
Reduce
dependence on
fossil fuels
High land use
(solar cell power
plants) could
disrupt desert
areas
High costs
(but should be
competitive in
5-15 years)
DC current must
be converted
to AC
Solar Power
Transfer to a Sustainable
Energy Future
Improve Energy Efficiency
Increase fuel-efficiency
standards for vehicles,
buildings, and appliances
Mandate government
purchases of efficient
vehicles and other devices
Provide large tax credits for
buying efficient cars,
houses, and appliances
Offer large tax credits for
investments in efficiency
Reward utilities for
reducing demand
More Renewable Energy
Increase renewable energy to
20% by 2020 and 50% by 2050
Provide large subsidies and tax
credits for renewable energy
Use full-cost accounting and
least-cost analysis for comparing all energy alternatives
Encourage government
purchase of renewable energy
devices
Greatly increase renewable
energy research and
development
Reduce Pollution and
Health Risk
Cut coal use 50% by 2020
Phase out coal subsidies
Encourage independent
power producers
Greatly increase efficiency
research and development
Levy taxes on coal and oil use
Phase out nuclear power or put
it on hold until 2020
Phase out nuclear power
subsidies
So why use one type over another
• Iceland uses geothermal energy because of
their location and its low environmental impacts
• China, US, Russia use coal because they have
a lot of it available and it’s cheap economically
• US dependence on oil is cultural because of our
insistence on cars, suburbs, bigger, more, better
• EU more nuclear power use because of
environmental benefits and they have the
technology to do it
• LDCs use wood, dung other biofuels that are
easily collected
• With impending effects of climate change
the use of carbon dioxide producing energy
sources is being questioned around the
world
• Our dependence is deep  how will we
change something that is so deeply
ingrained in our way of life?